Display and operating device for a vehicle component

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a display and operating device ( 10 ) for at least one vehicle component, in particular a radio, a CD and/or DVD player or similar audio and/or video player, a navigation device, an infotainment device, a heating, ventilating or aid condition control unit, or a human-machine interface, which is provided with a mechanical control element ( 18 ) for setting an operational parameter of at least one first vehicle component and a touch screen ( 12 ) for outputting information, and control keys ( 14 ) and/or other operational parameters for the first vehicle component and/or at least one second vehicle component. The touch screen ( 12 ) comprises a recess ( 16 ) and the mechanical operating element ( 18 ) is arranged in the recess ( 16 ) of the touch screen ( 12 ).

The invention relates to a display and operating device for a vehiclecomponent which is in particular a radio, a CD and/or DVD player orsimilar audio and/or video player, a navigation device, an infotainmentdevice, a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning control unit or ahuman-machine-interface.

Such display and operating devices are in particular provided in thecenter console of vehicles for inputting various operational parametersof vehicle components as well as displaying information concerning thevehicle components or the vehicle.

For inputting the operational parameters, mechanical rotary controllers,rotary/press controllers, gear selector levers and mechanical keys arefrequently used. These mechanical operating devices serve for adjustingthe volume of a multimedia device, the input parameters of a navigationdevice or the gear in a vehicle, for example. The frequently usedmechanical control keys are often equipped with an LED signal lightwhich allows for indicating certain operational parameters to thedriver. Thus the driver is informed of the air conditioning system orthe rear window heater being switched on, for example.

In WO-A-2009/045671 an operating device for a vehicle is disclosed. Inthis operating device a rotary controller is arranged in the middle offour touch pads. Thus interspaces are obviously created between theindividual touch pads. Both the rotary controller and the individualtouch pads serve for operating individual vehicle components. Neitherthe rotary controller nor the touch pads are designed for displayinginformation concerning the vehicle components.

Further operating devices without any display function are described inthe publications DE-A-10 2011 108 214, DE-A-10 2004 019 893, DE-A-102010 010 574, JP-A-2007 008 246 as well as DE-A-2008 023 231. Inaddition, in the publications US-A-2011/0025488 and US-A-2003/0188594further operating devices are disclosed.

A problem frequently occurring with known display and operating devicesis that interspaces exist between the mechanical control keys, and ifthe driver or the passengers of the vehicle are not careful whenconsuming stimulants and/or food in the vehicle, food scraps or liquidmay enter into said interspaces. As is generally known, in particularduring long trips people increasingly tend to consume food or beveragessuch that nowadays most vehicles are equipped with cup holders. Whenfood or beverages are consumed, a brief inattention or bumps on the roadtravelled or a traffic disruption my lead to liquid entering theinterspaces between the control key entailing the risk of damaging ordestroying the electronic system lying underneath.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a display andoperating device without any interspaces between control keys such thatentering of liquids or food into the display and operating device and aresultant damage or destruction of this device is precluded or at leastmade considerably more difficult.

For achieving this object the invention suggests a display and operatingdevice for at least one vehicle component which is in particular aradio, a CD and/or DVD player or similar audio and/or video player, anavigation device, an infotainment device, a heating, ventilating and/orair conditioning control unit or a human-machine-interface, wherein thedisplay and operating device is provided with

-   -   a mechanical operating element for setting an operational        parameter of at least one first vehicle component, and    -   a touch screen for outputting information, for displaying        control keys and/or for inputting further operational parameters        for the first vehicle component and/or for at least one second        vehicle component,

wherein

-   -   the touch screen comprises a recess, and    -   the mechanical operating element is arranged in the recess of        the touch screen.

Further, for achieving the object, a vehicle center console having adisplay and operating device with the aforementioned features as well asa vehicle having a display and operating device or a center console witha display and operating device is proposed, wherein the display andoperating device comprises the aforementioned features.

Due to employment of a touch screen with a closed operating surfaceinstead of mechanical control keys the display and operating deviceaccording to the invention does not comprises any interspaces betweenthe control keys. The touch screen is a touch-sensitive screen whichserves as both an input and an output device. Thus a touch screendiffers from a touch pad, for example, which merely serves as an inputdevice and does not offer any output function. For example, LCD displaysmay used as a touch screen, such as those employed in smartphones andtablets. Further, curved touch screens are also used for this purposewhose shape is adapted to the contour of a vehicle center console, orflexible touch screens which are capable of adapting to the shape of thecenter console, for example. In the case of the display and operatingdevice according to the invention the touch screen offers thepossibility to display control keys, to receive the input of a user andto transfer it to the corresponding vehicle component or to displayinformation of one or a plurality of vehicle components. Further, it ispossible for different areas of the touch screen to fulfill differenttasks. In addition, the control keys are freely programmable such thatthe display and operating device according to the invention can be usedin different vehicles having different vehicle components without anyadaptation of the hardware being necessary.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the mechanical operatingelement of the display and operating device is designed as a gearselector lever. Thus the mechanical operating element can be used forgear shifting purposes, while via the virtual control keys of the touchscreen adjustments of an audio player or adjustments to the chassis canbe carried out.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the mechanicaloperating element is configured as a rotary operating element or as arotary/press operating element. The rotary/press operating element canbe used for volume adjustment of a CD player or for inputting an addressinto a navigation device, for example, while the adjustment of aventilating and air conditioning device, for example, can be carried outvia the control keys of the touch screen.

Further, according to a preferred configuration of the display andoperating device according to present invention, the touch screenextends annularly around the recess. In this configuration, the controlkeys are annularly arranged around the mechanical operating element suchthat they are located in the immediate vicinity of this mechanicaloperating element. Due to the arrangement of the control keys in theimmediate vicinity of the mechanical operating element the driver isoffered better accessibility to all elements relevant to the operationof the vehicle components.

According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the recess ofthe touch screen is configured as an edge recess. Thus the touch screenis of a U-shape or L-shape configuration, for example. For example, thismay be advantageous if it is desired to provide the area located in theimmediate vicinity of the driver for displaying the keys as well as forinputting purposes, and not to equip the area located at a distance tothe driver and thus less easy to access with control keys and displayelements.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the touch screen mayfurther be designed for outputting a mechanical, acoustical or opticalfeedback upon a tactile input. The mechanical feedback may be in theform of a vibration, for example, which informs the user that thedisplay and operating device has received an input. Further, the usermay be informed of the input via an acoustical signal, or he may bewarned when the adjusted operational parameters lie within a criticalrange, for example. Similarly, optical signals may be outputted, such asa flashing indicator, for example, which may warn the user of a danger.Due to the outputted feedback the driver need not draw his attention offthe road traffic for operating the display and operating device.

Finally, according to a preferred aspect of the invention, it may beprovided that the touch screen is designed for displaying a defined menuupon touch of the mechanical operating element. For this purpose it maybe provided that the mechanical operating element is configured as agear selector lever, for example, and that upon touch of the gearselector lever on the touch screen the options for the gear aredisplayed. It may also be provided that the mechanical operating elementis configured as a rotary operating element or as a rotary/pressoperating element, and that upon touch of this mechanical operatingelement a menu for the audio player is shown.

Hereunder the invention is explained in greater detail on the basis oftwo exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings in which

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of thedisplay and operating device, and

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of adisplay and operating device.

In FIG. 1 a display and operating device 10 is shown which comprises atouch screen 12 having plurality of control key fields, hereinafterreferred to as control keys 14. The touch screen 12 further includes acentrally arranged recess 16 in which a mechanical operating element 18is arranged. In this exemplary embodiment, the mechanical operatingelement 18 is configured as a gear selector lever 20. Such a display andoperating device 10 may typically be provided in a vehicle centerconsole such that the driver mechanically selects the gear and furthercomponents of the vehicle by means of the various control keys 14. Whichvehicle components are adjusted to which extent via the display andoperating device can be programmed at will such that the display andoperating device 10 can be manufactured independent of the vehicleequipment. Depending on said vehicle equipment it may be determined byadaptation of the display and operating device software which vehiclecomponents can be controlled to which extent and which operationalparameters are to be captured by the display and operating device 10.Further, by adaptation of the software thus the number of the displayedcontrol keys 14 as well as the size of these control keys 14 can beadjusted at will. Further, one or more of the virtual control keys 14can be replaced in a simple manner by display areas which do not receiveany input by the user but can only output information regarding one or aplurality of vehicle components and/or general operational information,such as the current vehicle speed, the fuel consumption or the vehicleinterior temperature, for example.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 a display and operatingdevice 10′ is illustrated, wherein the recess 16′ of the touch screen12′ is configured as an edge recess and the mechanical operating element18′ is configured in the form of a rotary/press operating element 22′.Due to the fact that the recess 16′ is configured as an edge recess alarger display and operating area of the touch screen 12′ is availableto the user, said area being located in his immediate vicinity. Thusthere exist no control keys 14′ arranged behind the mechanical operatingelement 18′, as seen from the viewpoint of the driver, for example,which control keys might be difficult to access by the driver. In manyexemplary applications the touch screen 12′ which is U-shaped in thisexemplary embodiment offers the user an easier input of the operationalparameters and is also easier to read since the mechanical operatingelement 18′ does not obstruct the view to the active area of the touchscreen 12′. Further, in the display and operating device 10′ illustratedin FIG. 2 the mechanical operating element 18′ is configured s as arotary/press operating element 22′ which is suitable for operating audioplayers and navigation devices. In this exemplary embodiment, the activearea of the touch screen 12′ is divided into numerous areas each ofwhich may serve as a control key 14′ or may be reprogrammed at will toserve as display areas.

In both exemplary embodiments it is shown that between the control keys14 and 14′, respectively, illustrated by the touch screen 12 and 12′,respectively, no interspaces exist such that the display and operatingdevices 10 and 10′, respectively, of the exemplary embodiments areprotected against entering of liquid or food.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10, 10′ Display and operating device

12, 12′ Touch screen

14, 14′ Control keys

16, 16′ Recess

18, 18′ Mechanical operating element

20 Gear selector lever

22′ Rotary/press operating element

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A display and operating device for at least onevehicle component which is in particular a radio, a CD and/or DVD playeror similar audio and/or video player, a navigation device, aninfotainment device, a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioningcontrol unit or a human-machine interface, having a mechanical operatingelement for setting an operational parameter of at least one firstvehicle component, and a touch screen for outputting information, fordisplaying control keys and/or for inputting further operationalparameters for said first vehicle component and/or for at least onesecond vehicle component, wherein said touch screen comprises a recess,and said mechanical operating element is arranged in said recess of saidtouch screen.
 12. The display and operating device according to claim11, wherein the mechanical operating element is configured as a gearselector lever.
 13. The display and operating device according to claim11, wherein the mechanical operating element is configured as a rotaryoperating element or as a rotary/press operating element.
 14. Thedisplay and operating device according to claim 11, wherein the touchscreen annularly extends around the recess.
 15. The display andoperating device according to claim 11, wherein the recess of the touchscreen is configured as an edge recess.
 16. The display and operatingdevice according to claim 11, wherein the touch screen is designed foroutputting a mechanical, acoustical or optical feedback upon a tactileinput.
 17. The display and operating device according to claim 11,wherein the touch screen comprise a closed surface.
 18. The display andoperating device according to claim 11, wherein the touch screen isconfigured to display a defined menu upon touch of the mechanicaloperating element.
 19. A center console for a vehicle having a displayand operating device according to claim
 11. 20. A vehicle having adisplay and operating device according to claim
 11. 21. A vehicle havinga center console according to claim 19.